Horn of Africa

The US State Department says it’s gravely concerned by the expansion of fighting between Ethiopia’s government forces and Tigrayan rebels in the north of the country. Washington reiterated its call for the Tigray People’s Liberation Front to withdraw from the Amhara and Afar regions, and halt its advances in and …

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, one of the most prominent figures during the Covid-19 pandemic, is the sole candidate to lead the World Health Organization once his current term expires, the WHO announced Friday. In his application letter, the Ethiopian former health and foreign minister said Covid-19 had “ravaged the world” and in a …

The African Union mission in Somalia (Amisom) has denied it supported government troops in recent clashes with the Ahlu Sunna wal Jama’a Sufi militia in the central town of Guriel, BBC News reports. The AU mission, accused of supporting Somali federal troops during recent clashes with the Sufi militia Ahlu …

In Ethiopia, intense fighting is reported to be continuing around the cities of Dessie and Kombolcha in Amhara state between the Tigrayan rebels and the Ethiopian army with its allies. Dessie is home to tens of thousands of internally displaced people who fled their homes as the war expanded to …

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo and Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble have reportedly agreed to end a bitter rift that had threatened to derail the country’s long-delayed elections, reports said. The row between the two leaders had also risked splitting Somali security forces. It was sparked by the government’s handling …

Tigrayan forces say Mekelle, the capital of the war-torn Tigray region in northern Ethiopia, has been hit by airstrike for a second time this week, reports said. Kindeya Gebrehiwot, a member of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)’s central committee, tweeted about the airstrike being carried out in the city …

Government in Ethiopia has blamed the rebel group, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), for killing at least 30 civilians during recent attacks. In its latest statement, the government says the TPLF targeted areas in Amhara and Afar regional states, which both border Tigray, in “unwarranted attacks against innocent civilians”. Whereas …

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has linked food aid from abroad with diplomatic pressure on the country, in a statement reported by state-owned Ethiopia Television (ETV). He said Ethiopia needs to stop receiving the assistance to avoid that pressure, ETV reported. “If we make sure that this thing called wheat …

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, says the humanitarian crisis caused by the war in northern Ethiopia is worsening with up to seven million people in urgent need of food aid. Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is himself Tigrayan, said the Tigray region had …

Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a rebel group in Ethiopia say federal troops and their allies have launched coordinated attacks on all fronts. They said heavy artillery, tanks, fighter jets and drones were being used against them, BBC News reports. A senior member of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front said …